Aerosol dispenser and penetrable cartridge therefor



April 22, 95 M. L. FOLKMAN AEROSOL DISPENSER AND PENETRABLE CARTRIDGE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 3, 1947 Q v E. .l 1

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE AEROSOL DISPENSER AND PENETRABLE CARTRIDGE THEREFOR Marvin L. Folkman, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application'February 3, 1947, Serial No. 726,177

, 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-82) 1 My invention comprises a novel form of dispenser for volatile or other liquids, one which is readily adapted to expel its contents in a stream, drop by drop, as a liquid spray, or in vapor form.

A prime objective of my invention is to pro- I duce a cartridge type dispenser of extreme structural simplicity, especially one that can be manufactured and sold at a relatively small price, and which is substantially so made that it may be used indefinitely by simply refilling with fresh cartridges of the fluid to be dispensed.

As a dispenser my invention is particularly adapted for handling liquids or volatile fluids for medicinal purposes including anaesthesia administration, atmospheric and other sterilizing, fire-extinguishment, insecticide distributing, and the like.

At the present time there are many liquids available which have a low boiling point and therefore vaporize sufi'iciently at normal temperature or standard" conditions, so as to generate dispensing pressure within a container. Such liquids are, for example, ethyl chloride,

methyl bromide, ether, Freon, etc.

With the utility of liquids of the knownand above named classes in mind, my dispensing means has been evolved so as to include a special new form of cartridge holder, one which is of a skeleton-like structure, as compared with solid enclosing forms quite commonly known. Therefore, my invention achieves the advantage of enabling the heat of a room, and especially that of the hand of the user grasping the holder, with its contained cartridge, to affect the cartridge contents and thus produce proper evaporation of the liquid therein to generate ample pressure for the ejection of the said contents, for any of the divers and other uses above outlined. Obviously, use of solid enclosing holders or casings for cartridges would defeat accomplishing such desirableresult, or operation, of the dispensing unit.

Still another purpose in devising my invention has been to avoid the use of expensive screw connections, either between my dispensing unit and cartridge applied thereto, or between such a unit and a casing or holder for the cartridge, as heretofore known, all with the objective of cost reduction.

A further purpose of my construction has been to make my dispensing unit, and skeleton holder for the cartridge, so simple, that a single movement of the cartridge may introduce it into the holder, ready for action and in suitably connected position, and a corresponding movement may be 2 utilized for removal of the cartridge ready for replacement by a fresh one.

Another novel feature of my invention lies in employing a rubber stopper for my cartridge, to seal its contents, and to use this stopper when penetrated by a flow establishing needle for suplying the fluid or vapor to the applicator of the dispenser, as a means to so inter-connect the dispenser and cartridge that accidental displacement of the latter is prevented,-though readily permitting its intentional or authorized removal. I believe the quick emplacementand removal features forthe cartridge in my dispenser construction to be highly essential and novel phases of my invention. a

While in its preferred form, according to my invention, I utilize a relatively rigid shell or receptacle for my cartridge, because of the peculiar yieldable skeleton holder employed, it is possible to insert in the holder collapsible tube types. of

cartridges or dispensing tubes, and'efiect desired mechanical pressure thereon to expel their contents.

My invention also contemplates the provision of certain novel cartridge ejecting means for my dispensing unit.

There are objects and novel features of my invention, other than mentioned above, as will be understood on a reading of the following detailed description, viewed in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through a dispenser embodying the essential features of my invention in one of-its preferred forms.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the nozzle member of the dispenser.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross'sectional view taken about on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken about on the line 44 of Figure 1 showingclearly the .manner of engagement of the cartridge holder retaining rods or s rin -embers with the outer wall portions of the cartridge.

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views showing a modified form of my invention having controllable instrumentalities for expelling the cartridge from the holder.

Specifically describing the construction of my invention in the simple embodiment shown in the drawings, and referring particularly to Figure 1, it will be noted that my dispensing unit comprises 3 main structural features. These are the body member I containing valved controlling means for the dispensing of the liquid or fluid handled by the unit, the nozzle or applicator member 2, and the cartridge holding means designated 3 and comprising a series of elongated spring fingers or resilient rod members connected to and extending from the cartridge receiving side of the body member I.

In conjunction with my dispensing unit as generally above referred to, I employ a supply cartridge containing the low boiling point or volatile liquid or fluid to be dispensed such as ethyl chloride, methyl bromide, ether .or Freon previously mentioned, said cartridge designated at 4, and in the form illustrated consisting of a relatively thin walled shell or casing. closed at one end permanently as shown at 5, and provided within its opposite end with a sealing closure 6 of rubber or similar needle or stylus penetrable material, said closure 6 maintained against displacement from its closingposition by an abutment collar or stop member I. The cartridge4 may be made of plastic material such ascommonly available today, ordinary glass, or the like, the primary objective being that the cartridge material preferably be not frangible, but" rather a material of considerable strength and less likely to be broken or injured as would the glass,if used.

If the cartridge 4 is made of glass or plastic, the stop collar or member I can be readily attached to the body of the cartridge at the stopper end of thelatter bybeing fused or otherwise secured thereto in a manner preventing the displacement of the stopper 6 under the action of pressure generated in the cartridge body.

Revertingjnowto the specific construction of my dispensing unit involving primarily the parts of -the-body I, it is notable that the body member I is ofsleeve-like form and provided at the end thereof from-which the skeleton-like holder comprising the spring retaining rods e projects, with an inwardly extending flange 8, the outer side of the latter being adapted to abut with the stopper end of the cartridge 4 when the cartridge is introduced into the space between the spring retaining rods 4 of the holder, and moved to its final position ready for dispensing of the contentsthereof. The body member I at the end opposite that equipped with the flange 8-is internally threaded for receiving the externally threaded adjacent end portion of the nozzle or tained by screw thread means in an enlarged portion of the passage at such end. By removal of the sprayer member I0, the passage 9 maybe left clear so that the contents of the cartridge 4 when expelled through said passage may be dispensed in a steady stream or drop-by-drop, under the control of the valve means carried by the body of my dispenser.

Between the flange -8 and the nozzle member 2 ofthe member I is received the needle supporting plug II, abutting with the inner side of the flange 8 and carrying the hollow stopper penetrating needle I2 through which the contents of thecartridge 4 is dispensed, and passes to a rubber or similar resilient sleeve-like control valve I3, of a type already known to the art.

A plug member I4 interposed between the member II and the nozzle 2 supports the valve 4 member I3, the tubular passage in which is in alinement with the hollow portion of the needle I2 and the dispensing passage 9 of the nozzle 2.

To control th valve I3 for opening and closing, I provide a valve stem I5 slidable through the wall of the member I transversely of the axis of the said member, and engageable at its inner end with the valve I3 at one side of the latter so as to exert sufficient pressure thereupon to maintain the valve closed.

The stem i5 is normally caused to exert such pressure by means of a spring I6 interposed between the outer side of the member I and a small finger lever Il pivoted at I8 between ears formed on the outer surface of the member I. The finger lever I! is pivoted between its ends to the said ears, and the shorter end of the lever I1 is bifurcated to engage in a groove surrounding the outer end of the stem I5, thereby to create an interlock between the lever I! and the stem.

It is notable that the plug member I4 for carrying the valve I3 andguiding the stem I5 in its movement has an airand liquid tight connection with the inner wall of .the member I by the provision of an annular elongated gasket I9 which surrounds the said plug member I4.

All of the parts of my dispensing unit having beenfully described, and the structure of my cartridge'for containing the fluid to be dispensed, having been made clear, I proceed to. describe the operation of my invention, and the uses thereof.

It will be,v of course, obvious that the spring retaining members 3 of my cartridge holder. While effectively engaging. the outer surface of the cartridge, do not enclose the latter to any material extent;

Under the foregoing conditions, the shell. or bodyof the cartridge 4 is subjected to the atmospheric temperature of a room in which the dispenser of my invention may be used, and when the. hand of the user grasps the holder of the dispenser comprising the several members 3, the said cartridge is almost fully subjected to the heat of the hand so applied. Under the foregoing conditions, of course, my cartridge body is responsive to the transmission of the heat external thereto and the heat of the hand grasping the same so that-liquids (low pressure aerosols of the kinds before mentioned herein) of a volatile nature enclosed in the cartridge may readily and quickly vaporize at normal or standard conditions for generating the desired pressure required for'the expulsion of the contents of the cartridge through my dispensing unit.

In practical use, assuming that the cartridge 4 is to be emplaced in connection with the dispenser of my invention, all that is-required is to introduce the stopper end of the cartridge into the space between the outer free ends of the resilient retaining rods 3 of my holder means. push the cartridge longitudinally'into such space 7 toward the body member I, and exert slight pressure sufficient for the penetrating action of the needle or stylus I2 as it passes through the rubber or resilient stopper member 6. When this has been done my cartridge is applied to my dispensing unit in such a manner that there is no likelihood of accidental displacement because the friction between the needle I2 and the stopper 6 Will sufiice to readily retain the cartridge in place between the retaining rods 3 of the holder means.

When the parts of my invention are assembled in the manner set forth, the dispensing means may be handled in any ordinary manner of use .i to place it in a position desired or to remove it for actual use, and the parts will remain in proper assemblage under such conditions. The friction of the connection established by parts l2 and 6, is supplemented by slight friction endrawings, is fluted or formed with longitudinal ribs of slight depth, increasing the superficial or external area of the cartridge body with obvious advantages having in view the explanation of the operation and use of my invention as given above.

In the actual dispensing of the fluid contents of the cartridge 4, the construction of the nozzle 2 i as seen in Figurel will be used if the said contents are to issue from the nozzle in spray form and the operation of dispensing is effected merely by slight pressure of say the firstfinger of the hand grasping the holding means 3 and enclosed cartridge, upon rear or upraised end of the finger lever IT. My dispensing unit may be grasped in the above manner so that it can be-readily manipulated to wave the nozzle 2 in almost any direction and direct the liquid or vapor issuing from said nozzle in such direction.

When the contents of one cartridge 4 have been dispensed, by only slight effort said cartridge may be grasped and pulled outwardly from between the members 3, and discarded. Immediately a fresh cartridge can be replaced in substitution for that discarded as readily evident.

Owing to the simplicity of my dispensing unit construction and cartridge means, the cartridges may be so eponomically produced that they may be thrown away as valueless once their contents has been dispensed.

The primary reason for the foregoing advantageous construction and mode of use of the cartridge, lies in the fact that the cartridge formation is so simple and cheap so as not to make it of advantage for re-suppling the same cartridge with the renewed contents. There is no occasion by reason of the cartridge structure for removing a casing of the dispenser and inserting a cartridge thereinto, or for screw attaching the cartridge to the dispensing unit, all of which constructions are objectionable by reason of the greater costs and more complication involved in the manufacturing operations for producing same.

A small unit type dispensing structure and cartridge such as I have described may Well be utilized as a fire extinguisher when a fire extinguishing liquid of suitable volatility is emplaced in the cartridge means. Such a small type dispensing unit and cartridge means would be highly advantageous for use in conjunction with private automobiles, and very handy to use to put out small fires at the inception thereof. Made somewhat larger, units of the same type would be very useful in the home or for some emergency effectiveness, as will be obvious. The advantages of my invention as a substitute means for the common types of expensive so called high pressure aerosol dispensing bombs used today for dispensing or distributing volatile fluids for atmospheric sterilizing, insecticide destruction, and other like purposes, will be quite apparent.

The control of the dispensing of the contents of the cartridge 4 with my dispensing unit construction is very effective because the valve lever I! may be operated to control opening of the valve l3 for streaming the contents of the cartridge through the nozzle 2, causing spray action of the stream of fluid or vapor issuing from the nozzle, or a minute control such as drop by drop dispensing of a liquid may be obtained very readily.

It is within the contemplation of my invention that a collapsible tube type of cartridge may be employed in conjunction with my dispensing unit, the sole requirement being that the stylus or needle I2 shall be generally provided with a passage therethrough of larger diameter than contemplated in the construction of Figure 1, and the spring retaining rods 3 shaped to embrace the tube end to end for effective collapsing action.

In Figures 5 and 6 of my drawings, 1- show a modified form of my invention in which means are provided for expelling the cartridge from the holding means of the dispensing unit.

For the above purpose I form the needle or stylus carrying plug or member with a, relatively longer central lug I lb than used in the construction of Figure 1. The body or sleeve-likemember la is extended some distance beyond the flange 8a as at lb to provide a chamber for an expelling piston 20, between which and the flange 8a is interposed the coil spring 21, surrounding part Nb, and normally tending to push the piston in the direction of the cartridge.

The piston 20 may be locked in a retracted expelling position, with the spring 2! compressed, as in Figure 5, by a spring catch 22 adapted to engage in the groove 23 in the periphery of the piston. A finger lever 24 on the member la is rockable to pull outwardly on the catch 22 for releasing the same from the piston 20.

When the cartridge is shoved home into the holding means including the rods 3, the piston 20 will be engaged by the inner end of the cartridge and forced from the position of Figure 6 to that of Figure 5. The expansion spring 2| will be compressed and it and the piston'Zll will be automatically locked in said position of Figure 5.

After the contents of the cartridge are dispensed, the operator presses the lever 24 and releases the piston 20 from the catch 22. Thereupon, the piston 20 under the expansion action of the spring 2| will push the cartridge with ejecting force from between the members 3. A stop pin 25 may be used to limit the ejecting movement of the piston 20 and to this end pro- J'ects from the member Ia into a slot in the piston 20.

In the alternative, stop 25 may be dispensed with and the spring 2| secured at opposite ends to the parts 8a and 20.

The rods 3 are of course received in the grooves between the external ribs on the cartridge 4.

In lieu of the form of skeleton-like holder herein described and shown, one comprising a generally cylindrical body cut away at its sides to provide slots or openings, may be employed.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. Dispensing means of the class described, comprising a dispensing unit provided with a dispensing nozzle and having skeleton-like cartridge holding means constituting a handle and formed with open portions adapted to expose the major external surface of a cartridge to the atmosphere, a cartridge containing a low pressure aerosol disposed in the holding means so the heat of a hand grasping; the: holding. means may pass through the openiportions to the cartridge, and means to control passing of the aerosol from the cartridge through the unit.

2. Dispensing means of the class described, comprising a dispensing unit provided with a dispensing nozzle and having skeleton-like cartridge holding means, said holding mean forming a handle and including a plurality of spaced members to resiliently engage a cartridge for containing dispensible matter, and a cartridge containing a liquid which volatilizes at normal temperature, disposed in spring engagement with and within said spaced members.

3. Dispensing means of the class described, comprising a dispensing unit having skeletonlike cartridge holding means forming a. handle and having open positions adapted to expose the major external surface of a cartridge'to the atmosphere, combined with a cartridge containing a low boiling point fluid which volatilizes by the heat of the hand grasping the holding means,

said cartridge having a penetrable stopper, and a a hollow dispensing stylus on the unit penetrating the stopper and frictionally engaging the same to prevent displacement of the cartridge from the unit holding means, the holding means including resilient rods engaging the cartridge.

4. Dispensing means of the class described, comprising a dispensing unit having skeletonlike cartridge. holding means open at one end to receive a cartridge, said holding means including a plurality of spaced members to resiliently engage a cartridge for containing dispensible matter, and a cartridge having external spaced ribs to receive said rods therebetween and providing extending hand engaging surfaces between the spaced members.

5, Dispensing means of the class described, comprising a dispensing unit provided with a dispensing nozzl and having a skeleton-like cartridge holding means forming a handle and adapted to expose themajor external surface of a cartridge therein to the atmosphere and the heat of. thehand, a cartridge insaidholdin means containing a low pressure aerosol, and means to control dispensing of the aerosol from the cartridge.

6. Dispensing means of the class described, comprising a nozzle type dispensing unit having skeleton-like cartridge holding means constituting a handle including spaced members adapted to expose the major external surface of a cartridge'to the atmosphere, and open at one cartridge entering end, combined with a cartridge having a penetrable stopper, and a hollow'stylus on the unit penetrating the stopper and frictionally engaging the same to prevent displacement of the cartridge from the open end of the holding means, and means controlling dispensing of 1 the contents of the cartridge.

7. Dispensing meansv of. the class described} comprising a dispensing unit, cartridge holdingi means onsaid unit, a cartridge expeller on said unit. comprising a piston to engage the cartridge, means to energize the expeller comprising a spring coacting with the piston, alOCking catch engaging the piston to hold the spring energized to lock the expeller piston retracted against expelling action, and a lever to release the catch from thepiston for ejecting the cartridge.

MARVIN L. FOLKMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 601,988 Smalley Apr. 5, 1898 662,890 Borsdorf Nov. 27, 1900 1,237,453 Ball Aug. 21, 1917 1,468,041 Smith Sept. 18, 1923 1,899,222 Werder Feb. 28, 1933 1,935,973 Altmann Nov. 21, 1933 2,061,059 Carlson Nov. 17, 1936 2,094,869 Ballard Oct. 5, 1937 

